Army Reservist pleads guilty in bad-check scam

Mar. 13, 2013 - 07:48AM
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — A 22-year-old western New York man has pleaded guilty to fraud for cashing bad checks.

Erie County prosecutors say Steven Burns of Sanborn would wear his Army Reserve uniform into banks, tell the tellers he was caring for a sick relative and needed to cash the checks from his personal bank account in order to be deployed.

Instead, prosecutors say, Burns used the money to gamble.

Authorities say he walked away with about $4,000 from three banks during a five-month period last year, despite having insufficient funds in his account.

After pleading guilty Tuesday to scheming to defraud, he faces up to four years in prison. Sentencing is set for May 29.